Gas lantern stove device



' y 1964 R. J. KNAPP GAS LANTERN STOVE DEVICE Filed March l0, 1961 INVENTOR. 2. d. 'KNAPP A770 NEYs United States. Patent 3,133,536 GAS LANTERN STOVE DEVICE Roger J. Knapp, 1016 SW. Brinkley, Oklahoma City, Okla. Filed Mar. 10, 1961, Sex. No. 94,776 1 Claim. ((11. 126-258) This invention relates to stoves, and in particular relates to an attachment for use in combination with portable, combustion-type lanterns, and is used for warming coifee and the like on outdoor camping excursions.

As is well known, fishermen and hunters, for example, frequently camp out overnight and therefore require light, food and drink. Several variations of portable combustion-type lanterns are presently on the market and in common use. These combustion-type lanterns usually burn a liquid fuel, such as kerosene, or a low pressure gas fuel, such as propane. In addition to giving off substantial light, these lanterns also give off considerable heat, the heat being dissipated primarily through an upstanding flue. The upstanding flue is usually protected from rain and the like by a cap, the flue gases and heat passing through the vents in the sides of theflue. The cap is normally held in place by an upstanding rod which passes through the cap, the rod being threaded and receiving a nut which clamps the cap in place.

In accordance with the present invention, a device is combined with the lantern to provide a stove for heating a coiieepot or other utensil. A cylindrical sleeve housing is disposed around the upper end of the flue structure. A cross member is connected within the sleeve housing and has an aperture therein for receiving the threaded rod of the lantern. The cross member is placed over the threaded rod and rests on the flue structure and a nut is threaded over the rod to clamp the cross mem ber to the flue structure, and means are provided within the housing for supporting the utensil to be heated.

Therefore, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a device which will collect and utilize the heat from the flue of a combustion-type lantern to heat a utensil, such as a coifeepot, with the weight of the utensil and its contents being supported by the lantern and the device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described which can be attached permanently to the lantern without substantial adverse effect upon the operation of the lantern.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the type described which can be securely fastened to the lantern in operative position and withstand the normal handling and transportation abuse which portable camping equipment receives.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device which, by reason of a novel combination of parts, can be constructed of lightweight materials, has only a few parts which are easily fabricated from plate material, and is easily assembled to thereby provide a device which can be economically manufactured.

Additional objects and advantages of the present invention will be evident from the following detailed description and drawings wherein:

In the drawings: FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a device constructe in accordance with the present invention shown in operating position on a lantern.

FIGURE 2 is a top view of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings, a combustion-type lantern is indicated generally by the reference numeral 10. The lantern has a tank 12, which also serves as Patented May 19, 1964 a base, which rests upon a supporting surface 14. A valve control 16 is provided to control the flow of combustible fuel, such as propane, from the tank 12 to the lamp filaments 17 where the fuel is burned to produce light. A cylindrical glass housing 18 surrounds the filaments 17 and is topped by a protective roof 20. An upstanding flue portion 22 (see FIG. 3) is provided in the center of the roof 20 and has side openings 24. A cap 26 protects the top of the flue from rain and is secured in place by a nut 28 threaded onto an upstanding threaded rod 30. The threaded rod 30 is anchored by some suitable means within the center of the upstanding flue portion 22.

A'stove device indicated generally by the reference numeral 32 is comprised of a cylindrical sleeve housing 34. The sleeve housing is preferably fabricated from a rectangularly-shaped piece of sheet metal bent to form a cylindrical sleeve with overlapping edges 34a and 34b. Four strip members 36 are equally spaced around the inner periphery of .the sleeve housing 34. The strip members 36 have portions 36a which extend substantially the length of the sleeve housing to serve as stiffening means and are in abutting relation to the housing. Each strip member 36 also has an inturned portion 36b at the upper end thereof. The inturned portions 36b all project toward the axis of the sleeve housing 34 and are disposed in a common plane perpendicular to the axis of the sleeve housing 34. A cross member 38 extends between two of the strip members 36 across the diameter of the sleeve housing 34. The cross member 38 is provided with an aperture 40 aligned with the threaded rod 30 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is the axis of the sleeve housing 34. The cross member 38 has upturned end portions 38a which preferably have square tips to engage the bottom of the inturned portions 36b of the strip members 36.

Each upturned end portion 38a of the cross member 33 is provided with a threaded aperture adapted to receive a bolt 42. Each strip member is preferably provided with at least two threaded apertures at spaced intervals to receive other bolts 42. The sleeve housing 34 is provided with apertures in alignment with each of the threaded apertures in the strip members 36, including apertures in both edges 34a and 34b. A threaded bolt fastener 42 is inserted through each aperture in the sleeve housing 34 and threaded into each of the two threaded apertures of the strip members 36 and into the threaded apertures of the upturned end portions 38a of the horizontal cross member 38 to securely interconnect all of the parts.

The sleeve housing is then placed around the upstanding flue 22 with the aperture 40 of the cross member 38 receiving the upstanding threaded rod 30 of the lantern. The threaded nut 28 is then screwed tightly on the rod 30 to hold the cross member 38 and hence the housing 34 in position. If desired, the lower end of the sleeve hous ing 34 can rest on the roof 20 of the lantern to give added support. However, this is not necessary because the edges of the upturned ends 33a of the cross member 38 abut against the lower surface of the inturned portions 36b to maintain the device horizontal and prevent tipping due to an unbalanced load resting on the inturned portions 36b.

From the above description, it will be apparent that a device has been described which can be permanently attached to a combustion-type lantern without interfering with the operation of the lantern. The bail 44 of the lamp can still be used to carry the lantern. The heating device 32, by reason of its rigid attachment to the lantern, will not be displaced by the customary rough handling during outdoor excursions. A coffeepot 50, for example, is easily suported within the cylindrical housing 34 on 3 the inturned portions 36]) of the strip members 36 and will be heated sufliciently to percolate the coffee and to maintain the temperature of the coffee as high as desired for an unlimited time. Yet the ability of the lamp to give off light is not impaired.

It will be noted that the stove device 32 can easily be fabricated entirely from sheet metal. The cylindrical sleeve housing is fabricated of a rectangular piece of sheet material. The strip members 36 can readily be stamped from sheet material, the apertures drilled and tapped and the inturned portions 36b bent to shape. The cross member 38 can similarly be stamped from sheet material, the aperture 40 drilled, and the apertures which receive the bolts 42 also drilled and tapped. The upturned portions 38a can then be bent to shape. The apparatus can then easily be assembled by hand simply by putting the parts in their proper positions and using a screw driver to insert the screws 42. Therefore, it will be seen that the device can be easily and economically manufactured.

Having thus described a specific embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as defined by the appended claim.

Iclaim:

In combination:

(a) a combustion type portable lantern having a cylindrical, upstanding flue structure, said flue structure having apertures in the sides thereof for venting of combustion gases therethrough;

(b) a roof structure beneath and supporting said upstanding flue structure;

(c) an upstanding rod extending coaxi-ally through the cylindrical flue structure to a point thereabove and having threads on the upper end thereof;

(d) a cap resting on and covering the top of the flue structure, said cap having an upwardly facing horizontal surface defining an aperture receiving said rod;

(e) a cylindrical sleeve around the upper end of the cylindrical flue structure and around the cap, said cylindrical sleeve extending above said cap and de fining with said cylindrical flue structure an annular passageway for gases;

(f) at least four parallel, sheet metal straps each secured to the inner surface of the cylindrical sleeve over a portion of their lengths and spaced circumferentially around said cylindrical sleeve, said sheet metal straps each having anrinturned end portion extending radially inwardly from the cylindrical sleeve, said inturned end portions being substantially coplanar with each other to form a support for a cooking utensil, and each of said inturned end portions being of lesser length than the radius of said sleeve to define an opening coaxially positioned in said sleeve over the upper end of said threaded rod;

(g) a flat, elongated cross member resting on, and

supported by, the upwardly facing, horizontal surface of said cap, said cross member having an aperture therethrough receiving the threaded red;

(It) a pair of upturned end portions formed integrally on each end of said flat, elongated cross member and secured to opposite sides of said cylindrical sleeve in abutting and supporting contact with the inturned end portions of two of said sheet metal straps along horizontal lines of contact whereby said cylindrical sleeve is stably supported on said cap; and

(i) a nut on the threaded rod for securing the cap and the elongated cross member on the upper end of said upstanding cylindrical flue structure.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 80,093 Shea July 21, 1868 491,827 Wenman Feb. 14, 1893 1,585,106 Pederson May 18, 1926 2,583,916 Wickman Jan. 29, 1952 2,638,085 Guedon May 12, 1953 

